Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has opted to not risk Eberechi Eze for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Carabao Cup fourth round tie between the two sides just last month – a game in which he scored in – but there was hope he would be available for selection after the international break.
However, despite returning to training this week, the decision has been made for Eze to not make the trip to Villa Park, with the Eagles boss citing protection for the attacking midfielder ahead of a hectic run of games over the festive period.
“Ebs would like to be involved in tomorrow’s game, but I took the decision not to take him with us to Villa,” Glasner told reporters.
“It’s a little bit too risky. He trained during the week, but it’s too near when it happened. When we see our schedule, we have to protect our players.
“When we see our schedule after the Villa game, with eight games in December, we can’t take any risks, so that’s why Ebs is not involved in tomorrow’s game.
“We had a long chat today, because he’s very ambitious. He’s a great guy, he worked really hard and he wanted to be with us. He feels he’s ready, and it’s him who wants to play.
“Of course, I want him to play. But as I mentioned, we have to protect him.
“Therefore we said: ‘OK, yes we lose [him] for one game, but we win eight or nine days. And maybe then we win eight games, and we all hope to win at the Emirates in the Carabao [Cup].
“Then we have 15 games in December and January, and we need him for 15 games, not just for one.”
In addition to Eze, Eddie Nketiah and Matheus Franca will also miss out against Villa, as will Daichi Kamada as he begins a three-match suspension after being sent-off in the 2-0 home defeat by Fulham last time out.
However, there is some good news to report.
Will Hughes, Chris Richards and Jefferson Lerma are all available for selection again and Cheick Doucouré is line to make only his second Premier League start of the season.
“That’s very good for us of course, and we hope that Adam [Wharton] comes back, maybe not for the Newcastle game, but in the following one or two weeks, because we need them,” Glasner added.
“We need the quality of those players, the passing, but also it’s the same with Cheick. I think if he starts, it would be the second start within one year, so I don’t expect miracles from him, but it’s good to see him back on the pitch, getting more confidence with his body.
“He’s a fantastic football player, we could see from the first day, but when you are, I think he [was] injured at the beginning of November last year, he trained for six to eight weeks in 12 months, so that’s getting back into his best shape, this is what we will support him [with], but it’s good to have him back.
“He’s talking a lot, he’s a senior player. The young generations are often very introverted, and he’s one on the pitch, talking to the others, organising things, pushing the players, and this helps us of course.”
